Gas washer



Jan. 14, 19300 L T 1,743,974

GAS WASHER Filed April 9, 1928 Ifivenl'or Marcel Mallet olii'orneys.

Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARCEL MALLET, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO NEWTON CHAMBERS AND COM PANY, LIMITED, OF THORNCLIFFE IRONWORKS AND COLLIERI'ES, NEAR SHEF- FIELD, ENGLAND, A COMPANY 013 GREAT BRITAIN Ms WASHER Application filed April 9, 1928, Serial No. 268,615, and in France September 27, 1927.

This invention relates to gas washers in which the washing or scrubbing of any gas by means of a liquid consists in passing the gas in a direction counter current to that of the liquid in as intimate a contact as possible. There are various forms of apparatus for achieving this end, mechanically operated, and otherwise.

It often happens that the relation between the amount of gas passed and the final amount tally side by side, as in horizontal rotary fwashers; the latter obviously avoiding undue height.

In arrangements composed of horizontally disposed compartments, the upper part of each compartment contains the washing sur- "faces, and. the lower .portion acts as a receptacle for the washing liquid.

The washing liquid flows from one compartment to the next over suitably arranged weirs or otherwise,-and is raised successively.

by pumps, agitating arrangements or otherwise in order to wet the washing surfaces afresh. This process is in most cases continuous and sucoesslve as regards any given portion of the liquid.

It is obviously necessary, all other conditions being equal, that in order to obtain the maximum efliciency from a given quantity of liquid no portion of the liquid should pass through the apparatus or any of its parts without taking part in the wetting of the washing surfaces, That is to say, that if it be possible for any portion ofthe liquid to remain in the zone of the receptacles at the base of the various compartments, a certain portion of the liquid may inevitably be by-passed as regards taking part in the wetting of the washing surfaces. The efficiency of the apparatus would, therefore, sufi'er accordingly.

In known apparatus before this invention,

the wetting liquid is taken more or less indiscriminately as it arrives in the receptacle, to perform the function of wetting the washing surfaces, and may or may not be by-passed depending upon other (and secondary) conditions.

Thepresent invention has for its objects simple methods of remedying these defects, by which allthe liquid passing from one compartment to the next is compelled to take part inthewetting of the washing surfaces.

According to the invention-a small chamber is interposed between each adjacent pair of washing compartments separated from them by small partitions which rise above the general level of the liquid.

Each of these partitions may be provided with a hole of a calculated size if necessary; though their omission would not affect the present invention.

The liquid is raised over the washing surfaces by means-of pumps, at such a rate as to keep the level of the liquid in the intercalary chamber always lower than the level of the liquid .in the washing compartments.

The supply of liquid to the intercalary container may thus be maintained by the forward flow from the preceding washingcompartment and the backward flow from the following washing compartment.

All the liquid must at some time flow into the inter calary chamber and no liquid can leave the intercalary chamber except by the pumps. Therefore each and every portion of the liquid iscompelled to take wetting of the washing surfaces: i

The accompanying drawing shews in sectional elevation a method of carrying out the invention. The arrow 7 shews thedirection of the gas circulation.-

Liquidenters by the tube E and flows into the small chamber 5'.

part in the The pump P' raises the liquid into the back through the hole 0 into the small chamber 11 and is re-circulated through C and R, or through the other hole u into the small loo tion of the walls of the compartments. In apparatus known hitherto, the walls are more or less vertically continuous, except for the necessary orifices for the passage of the gas. Liquid touching these walls at the top adheres to the surfaces, forming a fluid skin, which, with further liquid accretions,'usually thickens towards the base. This liquid skin is practically inactive for washing purposes.

In. the present invention, the walls are con structed in a series of discontinuous ledges sloping inwards towards the centre of the compartment as indicated at o in the drawing. A free passage of gas is thus allowed I between the ledges.

V V compartments containing fillings providing cally from the ledges and is returned to the washing surfaces, where it continues to take its part in the washing of the gas. Adhesion upon the surface of the walls of the partitions is thus definitely prevented.

I claim v 1. An apparatus for gas washing by liquid comprising a-washing compartment having holes in "opposite side walls through which the gas asses, said compartment containing a filling aving an extensive washing surface, a chamber at the side of said compartment communicating with the lower end thereof, whereby washing liquid can flow from said compartment to said chamber, and means for raisin said liquid from said chamber to the top 0 said compartment, said liquid-raising means being operated at such a rate as to maintain the liquid in said chamber at a lower level than that of the accumulated liquid in said compartment.

2. An apparatus for gas washing by liquid comprising a plurality of spaced side-b -side washing compartments through which t e gas can travel substantially horizontally, said extensive washing surfaces, chambers in the spaces between said compartments communieating on opposite sides with the lower endsof the two adjacentcompartments, whereby washing liquid can flow from each pair of adjacent compartments to the associated chamber, and liquid raising means connecting each of said chambers wlth the top of one of the adjacent compartments with which said chamber is associated, said liquid-raising means operatin to maintain a lower liquid level in said 0 ambers than in said compartments.

3. An apparatus for gas washing by liquid com rising a plurality of spaced side-by-side was g compartments adapted so that gas can travel in a substantially-horizontal direction therethrough, said compartments each containing a filling providing an extensive washing surface, chambers on each side of.

for carrying off liquid from the other of said end chambers.

4. An apparatus for gas washing by liquid comprising awashing compartment having holesin opposite side walls through which the gas passes, said compartment containing a filling having an extensive washing surface,

downwardly-extending ledges on said side walls for directing washing liquid falling through the compartment clear of said holes, a chamber at the side of said compartment Llquid reaching the walls drips systemati- I communicating with the lower end thereof, whereby said liquid can flow from said compartment to said chamber, and means for raisin said liquid from said chamber to the top 0 said compartment, said liquid-raising means being operated at such a rate as to maintain the liquid in said chamber at a lower level than that of theaccumulated liquid in said compartment.

5. In an apparatus for washing gas by liquid a compartment containing a filling providing an extensive washing surface, screens separating said filling from the top and bottom'of said compartment, holes in opposite side walls of said compartment to allow of the passage of as substantially horizontally through the fi ling in' said compartment, means to introduceliquid above the upper of said screens, said liquid falling through said filling to wet the surface thereof and accumulating below the lower of said screens, means permitting the flow of liquid from below. said lower screen to a chamber adjacent to said compartment, and pumping means for transferring liquid from said chamber to the space above said upper screen,

said pumping means operating to maintain the liqpid in said chamber at a lower level than t e liquid below said lower screen.

6. In an apparatus for washing, gas by liquid, a compartment containing a filling providing an extensive washing surface, screens separating said filling from the top and bottom of said compartment, holes in o posite side walls of said compartment to a low of the passage of gas substantially horizontally through the filling in said compartment, downwardly-extending ledges internally of said 0 posite side walls, means to introduce liqui above the upper of said screens, said liquid falling through said fillin to wet the surface thereof and accumulatmg below the loyver of said screens, means III permitting the flow of liquid from below said lower screen to a chamber adjacent to said compartment, and pumping means for transfering liquid from said chamber to the space above said upper screen, said pumping means operating to maintain the liquid in said chamber at a lower level than the liquid below said lower screen.

- MARCEL MALLET. 

